UAE Central Bank issues clarification on cryptocurrencies

In light of the recent UAE Central bank issuance of  Stored Value Facilities (SVF) Regulation, and while in the process of issuing the Retail Payment Services Regulation, which will define the regulatory treatment on crypto-assets, The UAE Central bank has issued a clarification with regards to the legalization crypto-currencies in the UAE in reference to the latest SVF regulations. The Central Bank has stated that it has not acknowledged crypto assets or virtual assets as a legal tender but only acknowledges UAE Dirham. Crypto assets are only considered as assets for investments. 

As stated in the press release, ” First, the CBUAE is not presently accepting (or acknowledging) crypto-assets or virtual assets as a legal tender in the UAE. The only legal tender in the UAE is the UAE dirham. Second, the SVF Regulation aims to license the entities who issue or provide SVFs in the UAE. As defined in the Regulation, an SVF is a facility that accepts a sum of money or money’s worth (that may, among others, include crypto assets or virtual assets) in exchange for the storage of the value of that money or money’s worth. As the CBUAE is presently not recognizing crypto assets as legal tender in the UAE, such assets are not recognized by the Central Bank as a means of payment and can only be used as assets for investment with a potential high risk.” 

The release also states, ” The CBUAE is currently working on a new Retail Payment Services Regulation that introduces the concept of payment tokens, which are defined as crypto-assets that are backed by a fiat currency and used for payment purposes.  By issuing the new SVF regulation, the CBUAE aims to facilitate FinTech firms and other non-bank payment service providers’ easier access to the UAE market while continuing to safeguard the customers’ funds, ensure proper business conduct and support the development of payment products and services.”  

The release also explains how the new SVF regulation has brought in enhancements. Number one it is allowing non-bank payment service providers to obtain a license without the need to incorporate a company jointly with a licensed bank and where the licensed bank is the major shareholder, it is lowering the capital requirement from AED 50 million to AED 15 million; and also allowing non-face-to-face digital customer on-boarding process instead of physical verification.